Development and validation of risk profiles of West African rural communities facing multiple natural hazards

West Africa has been described as a hotspot of climate change. The reliance on rain-fed agriculture by over 65% of the population means that vulnerability to climatic hazards such as droughts, rainstorms and floods will continue. Yet, the vulnerability and risk levels faced by different rural social-ecological systems (SES) affected by multiple hazards are poorly understood. To fill this gap, this study quantifies risk and vulnerability of rural communities to drought and floods. Risk is assessed using an indicator-based approach. A stepwise methodology is followed that combines participatory approaches with statistical, remote sensing and Geographic Information System techniques to develop community level vulnerability indices in three watersheds (Dano, Burkina Faso; Dassari, Benin; Vea, Ghana). The results show varying levels of risk profiles across the three watersheds. Statistically significant high levels of mean risk in the Dano area of Burkina Faso are found whilst communities in the Dassari area of Benin show low mean risk. The high risk in the Dano area results from, among other factors, underlying high exposure to droughts and rainstorms, longer dry season duration, low caloric intake per capita, and poor local institutions. The study introduces the concept of community impact score (CIS) to validate the indicator-based risk and vulnerability modelling. The CIS measures the cumulative impact of the occurrence of multiple hazards over five years. 65.3% of the variance in observed impact of hazards/CIS was explained by the risk models and communities with high simulated disaster risk generally follow areas with high observed disaster impacts. Results from this study will help disaster managers to better understand disaster risk and develop appropriate, inclusive and well integrated mitigation and adaptation plans at the local level. It fulfills the increasing need to balance global/regional assessments with community level assessments where major decisions against risk are actually taken and implemented

Sero-epidemiology of Toxocara canis infection in children attending four selected health facilities in the central region of Ghana

Objective: The study determined the seroprevalence of Toxocara canis infection among children attending four selected health facilities in the Central Region of Ghana.Design: Cross-sectional studyMethod: Sera from 566 children aged 1-15 years attending four selected health facilities in the Central Region of Ghana between July and September 2012 was used in a Toxocara excretory-secretory antigenbased ELISA to detect serum IgG. A short questionnaire was designed to obtain data on respondents as to age, gender, educational level, locality of residence, habits of washing of fruits, vegetable and hands before eating, keeping of pet (dogs or cats) , and history of playing with soil and pets. Clinical information was also collected. Associations between sero-positivity and age group, gender, risk factors, educational level and other variables were determined by Chi square test.Results: The overall sero-prevalence was 53.5% (n=566). Age, educational level and hospital visited were significantly associated with sero-positivity (p< 0.05). Children with history of playing with soil (χ2=9.03, p=0.003), pet-keeping (χ2=14.77, p=0.001) and not washing hands with soap before eating (χ2=5.82, p=0.016) were significantly associated with sero-positivity.Conclusion: The sero-prevalence of T. canis infection in children in the study was high. The children should be educated to desist from risk factors such as playing with soil and pets and be encouraged to ensure proper personal hygiene.Keywords: Seroprevalence, Toxocariasis, risk factors, children, Ghan

Arsenic Leaching in Mill Tailings at the AngloGold Ashanti- Obuasi Mine, Ghana: Management of Contamination in the Related Water Environment

The study investigated arsenic (As) leaching prior to stabilization in mill tailings at the AngloGold Ashanti (AGA)-Obuasi mine in Ghana, using the toxicity characterisation leaching procedure (TCLP). Total As concentrations and pH values in TCLP leachate and related water bodies, as well as the concentration mass-time for As reduction in groundwater, were monitored. The corning pH/C107 meter and the varian atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) were used to determine pH values and total As concentrations, respectively, in TCLP leachate and water samples. Sample blanks and matrix spikes ensured quality assurance. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS 16.0 and stata 11.0. The range of total As concentrations and pH values in TCLP leachate were 0.45–8.73 mg/l and 4.3–8.4, respectively, while the results in the water bodies ranged from 0.04–7.23 mg/l and 5.8–8.4, in stream water; 0.01–2.62 mg/l and 5.4–8.0, and also less than 0.01 and 4.2–7.0 mg/l in the unsaturated and saturated ground water zones, respectively. The unsaturated ground water zone was established as the most convenient for As leaching study. Two-tailed 80% upper confidence level (ULC) for As in TCLP leachate was 2.45 mg/l. Arsenic was mostly mobilised within pH range of 6.3–8.2 and 5.8–7.6 in stream water and ground water, respectively. The mobile As required 26, 32, and 45 months degrading to compliance values of 0.10, 0.05 and 0.01 mg/l, respectively, in the groundwater

Effect of manual sorting on Aflatoxins content in peanuts (Arachis Hypogaea, L.) from a Ghanaian market

Aflatoxins have been of major public health concern ever since they were discovered. A simple physical manual sorting procedure and blanching to facilitate the elimination of aflatoxins in raw peanuts was designed, conducted and verified using workshop participants. Two processors were then trained on the technology. Six streams of kernels namely, raw unsorted kernels, pre-sorted kernels (immature and shrivelled kernels), three levels of bad discoloured kernels (≤10% discoloured kernels, ≤50% discoloured kernels and ˃50% discoloured kernels) and good kernels were obtained during the verification exercise. Analyses carried out on these samples using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) gave total aflatoxin levels ranging from none detected to 60.42 μg/kg for good kernels and very, very bad kernels, respectively. Total aflatoxin content of the testa recorded 5.34 μg/kg. During the training session for the two processors, shrivelled and immature kernels were found to be the most susceptible to aflatoxin contamination. Thorough manual sorting of blanched kernels, offers a practical possibility in reducing significantly, aflatoxin levels to below regulatory limits

Exploring the role of traditional authorities in managing the public as stakeholders on PPP projects: a case study

Previous research indicates that involving representatives of the public in stakeholder management increases the likelihood of obtaining successful outcomes when managing the public as stakeholders on PPP projects. Relatively little is however known about the exact roles played by traditional authorities, who are powerful public representatives and significantly influence the public and the stakeholder management process on PPP projects worldwide. A case study of a PPP was conducted to explore this question. Through a thematic analysis of data collected from multiple sources, four main roles of traditional authorities were identified: mediation; project monitoring; community representation; and custody management of community culture and physical resources. These roles and their associated outcomes make traditional authorities a crucial link between project executors and the public during stakeholder management. This study provides a step towards developing strategies for collaborating with traditional authorities for better stakeholder management of the public on PPP projects

LiST as a catalyst in program planning: experiences from Burkina Faso, Ghana and Malawi

Background African countries are working to achieve rapid reductions in maternal and child mortality and meet their targets for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Partners in the Catalytic Initiative to Save One Million Lives (CI) are assisting them by providing funding and technical assistance to increase and accelerate coverage for proven interventions. Here we describe how the Lives Saved Tool (LiST) was used as part of an early assessment of the expected impact of CI plans in Malawi, Burkina Faso and Ghana

Persistence of onchocerciasis and associated dermatologic and ophthalmic pathologies after 27 years of ivermectin mass drug administration in the middle belt of Ghana

Objectives: There is a pressing need to regularly evaluate the progress of onchocerciasis elimination programmes to timely identify and mitigate potential risks hindering the reaching of the 2030 targets proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in its roadmap on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). We determined the prevalence of onchocerciasis and associated dermatological and ophthalmological manifestations in six endemic communities in the Bono Region of Ghana after 27 years of ivermectin mass treatment. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 564 participants aged ≥5 years were enrolled (49.1% females), with a median age of 26 (range: 5–89) years. In 54% and 47%, skin-snip microscopy and Ov16 rapid diagnostic tests were performed, respectively. Skin disease was determined using the WHO Skin NTD App. Visual function assessments included tests of visual acuity. Results: The overall microfilarial prevalence was 12.5% (38/305) and Ov16 seroprevalence was 24.2% (64/265). Severe itching was recorded in 24.3%, acute papular onchodermatitis in 52.8%, chronic papular onchodermatitis in 12.5%, lichenified onchodermatitis in 0.7%, skin atrophy in 11.3%, depigmentation in 1.7% and palpable nodules in 5.3%. Of the 301 persons in which visual acuity was examined, 17% were visually impaired and 5.3% were blind and 47.3% presented with cataract. Chronic papular onchodermatitis, lichenified onchodermatitis, depigmentation and visual impairment were significantly associated with the presence of skin microfilariae and Ov16 seropositivity. Conclusions: The persistence of Onchocerca volvulus infection and onchocerciasis-associated dermatological and ophthalmological pathologies after prolonged treatment is of concern. There is a need to include morbidity management in onchocerciasis elimination programmes and understand better patterns of treatment coverage, adherence and actual intake of ivermectin

Clarifying the role of three-dimensional transvaginal sonography in reproductive medicine: an evidenced-based appraisal

This overview describes and illustrates the clinical applications of three-dimensional transvaginal sonography in reproductive medicine. Its main applications include assessment of uterine anomalies, intrauterine pathology, tubal patency, polycystic ovaries, ovarian follicular monitoring and endometrial receptivity. It is also useful for detailed evaluation of failed and/or ectopic pregnancy. Three-dimensional color Doppler sonography provides enhanced depiction of uterine, endometrial, and ovarian vascularity